[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 94 (Tuesday, June 24, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1336]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING FATHER MICHAEL P. BAFARO

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JAMES P. McGOVERN

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 24, 2003

  Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Father Michael P. 
Bafaro for his service to the local and international community.
  Father Bafaro studied at St. Thomas Seminary in Bloomfield, CT; 
Seminary of Philosophy in Montreal, Canada; and Vesovile Seminary in 
Pordenone, Italy. At Vesovile, Father Bafaro was ordained on June 28, 
1953. He worked for 11 years at Our Lady of Lourdes and Our Lady of Mt. 
Carmel in Worcester, Massachusetts before volunteering to travel to 
Sicuani, Peru to work with the often neglected Andean community.
  His experience in Peru was a critical step towards his role as an 
international community leader and activist. He returned to Worcester 
to work with the Latino community. In Worcester, he founded the only 
Latino community-based organization in the city. His role as founder 
and executive director of Centro Las Americas, in addition to his 
longtime participation in the community thereafter, caused the 
organization to grant Father Bafaro the first Annual Lifetime 
Achievement Award.
  Father Bafaro earned the position of Pastor/Administrator of Our Lady 
of Mt. Carmel-St. Ann in Worcester in 1986. This position had a special 
spiritual meaning for the Father Bafaro due to his close relationship 
with the Carmelites of Peru. Once again Father Bafaro excelled as a 
leader and defender of human rights and equality. He has proven to be a 
loyal advocate for children's education, cultural awareness, low-income 
housing, and employment opportunities for those in need. He built the 
Mt. Carmel Apartments for low-income and handicapped people in 1991 and 
the Italian-American Cultural Center.
  Father Bafaro has been honored with the Worcester Sons of Italy 
Achievement Award and Social Justice Award; the Beacon Award from the 
Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester; the Pro-Deo Ad Juventudem 
Medal; and on four separate occasions, he received the key to the City 
of Worcester. Father Bafaro also participated in organizations such as 
the Affirmative Action Commission for the City of Worcester; the Board 
of Directors of the Northeast Hispanic Catholic Pastoral Center; the 
Priest Senate of the Diocese of Worcester; the Governor's Commission of 
Puerto Ricans and Hispanics; the Executive Board of Worcester 
Cooperative Council; City Managers Manpower Commission; Coalition for 
Peace and Justice; the Federation of New England Catholic Charities and 
Social Services; the Order of Sons of Italy; the United Way Task Force; 
and Ad Hoc Committee for Statewide Education.
  Father Bafaro supported the Worcester community in December 1999 
after the fire that claimed the lives of six firefighters. He provided 
support and guidance to the families and friends of the fallen heroes.
  He is the president of Worcester Community Cable Access television 
station where important community issues are presented and discussed. 
These examples show his devotion to raising the consciousness of others 
and the extent to which he stands for peace and justice. Father Bafaro 
has touched many lives, and has spent most of his life working to 
improve the lives of others. He has struggled alongside the 
underprivileged and promoted open-mindedness among people from multiple 
backgrounds.
  I can attest to the extent at which Father Bafaro has assisted and 
guided the community of Worcester because he has collaborated with my 
staff and me on various projects, including the Latino Education 
Institute. I have witnessed the accomplishments of Father Bafaro as a 
local community activist and leader who has based his work on the 
broader goal of promoting justice and equality at home and abroad.
  Mr. Speaker, I am sure that the entire U.S. House of Representatives 
joins me in thanking Father Michael P. Bafaro for his contribution to 
the community.

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